Books 52 and 53
My Life in Pink & Green and My Summer in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald
My daughter is not a big reader. She likes to read, but gets frustrated because her brother and I read really fast. She started the Harry Potter series and got through book 1, and is currently reading the Hunger Games series, and is on Catching Fire. Due to the fact that she thinks she reads slow she has tended to get books from the library that are very thin, and at this point really not on her reading level, which is high, despite her idea that she reads slowly. Phil helped her pick these two books out at the library, but knowing nothing about them I figured I better read them first. (of course the fact that it took me 3 days to do so, probably annoyed her!)
The books center around a 12 year old named Lucy. Her world is getting turned upside down as she discovers her family might not only have to move, but also may lose their pharmacy. On top of it her best friend Sunny has fallen in love for the first time and needs Lucy's help to make things work out. Lucy is beginning to feel like everyone needs her help. In My Life in Pink & Green, she feels she's discovered the answer to the pharmacy's problem and with the help of her sister applies for a grant that will help save her world. In Book 2 you discover if the grant worked, and what is next for the pharmacy and this group of friends that are learning how to deal with the new concept of boyfriends as they are growing older.. Will Lucy really be able to fix every one's problems? Will she learn how to fix her own? Both questions will get answered, if you just take the time to read the stories.
Good preteen/early teen story lines.
I give both of these books 4.5 stars.
Megan Scott has decided that she is done with men. While she wants a family, she's decided she's going to pursue other means of getting one. That is until she finds herself waking up in Las Vegas married. She was in town for her cousins wedding, and never imagined she'd do something so crazy, but now she has and isn't sure what to do next. The bigger problem is her husband thinks that the reasons they got married the night before are still good reasons, and that they should stay married.
He convinces her that they should give their marriage a trial period. She leaves her world behind and moves into his, promising not to fall for him. Things are going according to one of their plans, but then they meet up with an ex, and everything turns upside down. Will they stay married and make it work? Guess you have to read it to find out.
I'd give the book 4 stars. It was a very quick light hearted novel.
I was honestly a bit skeptical when I downloaded this free book. I'm trying to be more careful about what I read. There is so much garbage out there, and while I enjoy a good romance story, I don't need the trash that sometimes comes with it. This book was a pleasant surprise in that regard.
The book centers around Gina Hall who is done with men who won't commit to the relationship. She had been dating someone for 10 years before he finally admitted he wasn't wanting to get married. Now as a bridesmaid for her friends upcoming wedding she is surrounded by friends who are all in love. Just for fun the girls start to play Truth or Dare. Gina never picks truth so she ends up taking the dare and ends up moving out of her home into her friends apartment, and going on a blind date. She also ends up getting asked to set up a going away party for Chris Bradley at work.
During the course of finding out what he would like for his party she ends up getting him caught up in her game of Truth or Dare she's been playing, except he changes the rules and makes it Truth or Date. One date leads to another and soon she isn't sure if they are still playing or actually dating.
The book was an amazingly quick read, funny and realistic.
I give the book 4 stars.
Book 49 A Year at 32 September Way by Mary Ylisela
Five people from three different countries find themselves embarking on a year long adventure in Verona, Italy. They have all rented apartments in the same building, never realizing how entwined their lives are about to become.
One of them, a writer, is running from her past hurts. Will she find happiness at last? Another tenant is a young couple. Will they find continued happiness, or will this be the beginning of the end? The next is a young woman looking to finally spend sometime with the love of her life. Will she discover sometimes people aren't who you think they are, or is he for real? Then there is the man whose Father has controlled his whole life, will he discover what it means to be free of control, or will lack of control cause him to implode?
The book was one that while somewhat unrealistic was hard to put down once you met each of the characters. The way their lives began to weave together was interesting, and certainly not what I would have thought it would have been having read the description that came along with this free copy of the book that I downloaded.
I would still recommend this book, I just tend to like more realistic stories, and while I'm sure this is believable for some, it just didn't catch me as that.
I'd give this book 3.5 stars.
I just finished this book yesterday, and all day today have felt kind of sad. I thought it was the weather, but now as I write this review I think it was the book.
Julia Lapp has so much to think about. Her father is dying, and she is the eldest daughter, her farm is falling apart, her Uncle is a trouble maker (at least in the eyes of the other Amish) and her fiance has called the wedding off again. How will she manage to maintain her home, watch over her brother and two sisters and deal with Paul's on again off again feelings?
Roman is a traveling Bee Man who visits the Lapp's farm every spring. He usually quickly moves on, but this year is different. This year he isn't sure why, but he feels drawn to stay and to take care of Julia and her family. She gives him a to do list, hoping that once he is done he will move on, but when his Uncle's fiance shows up at the farm, he begins to realize that he must now deal with the past, even if that means settling down.
Juila and Roman have never really connected, but now they are drawn into each other's lives as they try to help her father and her family deal with all the trials they are going through.
The book was good, just sad. A little too much tragedy. I tend to like more uplifting stories.
There were some good themes running through the book, and some happiness, I was just not a fan of how she resolved the one major issue that the family was dealing with.
Book 46: Cafenova by Jane Schevder
Heartbroken over her life in Seattle, Maddy makes a drastic change and moves to the coast of Maine where she buys a sprawling Victorian inn. She dreams of restoring it to it's full glory and opening her own bed and breakfast. The problem, the contractor is incredible looking and caring on top of it. She begins to realize that he might not only restore her home, but also her heart. Will the construction and restoration get in their way to build a future together, or will their pasts destroy it.
This was a quick read, with believable characters and a good story line.
I'd give the book 4 stars.
Book 47 Child of the Mist by Kathleen Morgan
Life in the Scottish highlands in 1565 is not easy. The clans are battling and it seems that it will never come to an end between the Campbell and MacGregors. When the MacGregors find a way to capture the leader of the Campbell tribe hope seems to be restored until it is discovered that Anne MacGregor, eldest daughter of the tribe owes the captive a life debt.
New plans must be made to end the feud between the two clans and the only solution seems to be a handfasting between Anne and Niall, the captured clan leader. Niall soon discovers that his capture was not by accident, so on top of bringing home a woman that many believe could be a witch, he must also discover who has betrayed him. While Anne is practiced in the healing of her people she soon discovers that while she thought she'd die if she had to give it up, that in reality living without it will be nothing compared to living without the man that she is falling in love with. Superstition and treachery mark their path though and it will take a miracle for them to survive all that is coming.
The book was amazing. The dialogue is written in a Scottish tongue, and took some getting used to. The author weaves an excellent story where just when you think you have it figured out it begins to change in a different direction. It was really hard to put down especially near the end.
I'd give this book 5 stars.
Next up: Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst and A Year at 32 September Way by Mary Ylisela
Books 52 and 53
